2.2.0.7 false Non-Cash Investing and Financing Information (Detail) (USD $) 147 - Disclosure - Non-Cash Investing and Financing Information (Detail) true false In Millions false false 1 USD false false iso4217_USD Standard http://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217 USD iso4217 0 pure Standard http://www.xbrl.org/2003/instance pure 0 iso4217_USD_per_shares Divide http://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217 USD iso4217 http://www.xbrl.org/2003/instance shares 0 shares Standard http://www.xbrl.org/2003/instance shares 0 $ false 2 USD false false iso4217_USD Standard http://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217 USD iso4217 0 iso4217_USD_per_shares Divide http://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217 USD iso4217 http://www.xbrl.org/2003/instance shares 0 pure Standard http://www.xbrl.org/2003/instance pure 0 shares Standard http://www.xbrl.org/2003/instance shares 0 $ 5 3 ma_DividendsDeclaredAndNotPaid ma false credit duration The aggregate amount of dividends declared, but not paid, as of the financial reporting date. false false false false false false false false false false false false 1 true true false false 20000000 20 false false false 2 true true false false 20000000 20 false false false xbrli:monetaryItemType monetary The aggregate amount of dividends declared, but not paid, as of the financial reporting date. No authoritative reference available. false 6 3 ma_MunicipalBondsCancelled ma false credit duration Municipal Bonds Cancelled false false false false false false false false false false false false 1 false false false false 0 0 false false false 2 false true false false 154000000 154 false false false xbrli:monetaryItemType monetary Municipal Bonds Cancelled No authoritative reference available. false 7 3 ma_RevenueBondsReceived ma false debit duration Revenue Bonds Received false false false false false false false false false false false false 1 false false false false 0 0 false false false 2 false true false false -154000000 -154 false false false xbrli:monetaryItemType monetary Revenue Bonds Received No authoritative reference available. false 8 3 ma_SupplementalAssetsAcquiredUnderCapitalLeases ma false debit duration Assets acquired under capital leases during the period. false false false false false false false false false false false false 1 false true false false -2000000 -2 false false false 2 false true false false -154000000 -154 false false false xbrli:monetaryItemType monetary Assets acquired under capital leases during the period. No authoritative reference available. false 9 3 us-gaap_CapitalLeaseObligationsIncurred us-gaap true credit duration No definition available. false false false false false false false false false false false false 1 false true false false 2000000 2 false false false 2 false true false false 154000000 154 false false false xbrli:monetaryItemType monetary The increase during the period in capital lease obligations due to entering into new capital leases. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 95 -Paragraph 32 false 10 3 us-gaap_FairValueOfAssetsAcquired us-gaap true debit duration No definition available. false false false false false false false false false false false false 1 false false false false 0 0 false false false 2 false true false false 17000000 17 false false false xbrli:monetaryItemType monetary The fair value of assets acquired in noncash investing or financing activities. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 95 -Paragraph 32 false 11 3 us-gaap_LiabilitiesAssumed us-gaap true debit duration No definition available. false false false false false false false false false false false false 1 false false false false 0 0 false false false 2 false true false false 15000000 15 [1] false false false xbrli:monetaryItemType monetary The fair value of liabilities assumed in Noncash investing or financing activities. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 95 -Paragraph 32 false 12 3 ma_AcquiredNoncontrollingInterest ma false credit duration Acquisition of noncontrolling interests in consolidated joint venture. false false false false false false false false false false false false 1 false false false false 0 0 false false false 2 true true false false 8000000 8 false false false xbrli:monetaryItemType monetary Acquisition of noncontrolling interests in consolidated joint venture. No authoritative reference available. false 1 Included $9 million to be extinguished in 2013 and 2016 for future benefits to be provided by MasterCard in the establishment of a joint venture. 2 8 false Millions UnKnown UnKnown false true